In a sobering announcement, the World Food Programme (WFP) has underscored the urgent need for one billion dollars to avert a looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan, as reported by Khaama Press. The organization emphasized that this financial injection is crucial to extend critical food assistance to the vulnerable Afghan population.
In a statement posted on its official social media channels, the WFP reiterated its concerns regarding the perilous budget shortfall in Afghanistan, stressing the imperative nature of addressing this dire situation.
According to the World Food Programme, a staggering ten million Afghans have been denied essential humanitarian aid during the current year, as highlighted in the Khaama Press report. This exacerbates an already precarious situation, as over 20 million Afghans are teetering on the brink of starvation, placing them in desperate need of immediate assistance.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has also sounded the alarm in its latest report, citing a worrisome decline in health services and the discontinuation of vital support for those in dire need, all stemming from budget constraints.
It is noteworthy that the World Food Programme had previously estimated that one billion dollars would be required to provide assistance to 21 million people. With only around one billion dollars of the necessary USD 3.23 billion for humanitarian aid having been secured thus far, as per Khaama Press, the funding gap remains glaring.
Afghanistan, historically reliant on international aid, faced a stark reality as Western donor support dissipated following the return of the Taliban to power in August 2021, subsequent to the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces. This abrupt shift led to the swift collapse of the Afghan economy, compelling self-sufficient Afghans to seek humanitarian aid for their very survival.
In light of widespread human rights violations and international isolation, the Taliban’s regime has encountered global condemnation.
Significantly, the resurgence of the Taliban in August 2021 has had a devastating impact on Afghanistan’s educational system. This has resulted in the exclusion of girls from accessing education, with religious schools gradually filling the void left by traditional schools and universities.
Women in Afghanistan have faced an array of challenges since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. They have been systematically denied access to education, employment, and public spaces, further underscoring the urgency of addressing the dire humanitarian situation in the war-torn nation.